CVE-2024-49822 in QRadar Advisor with Watson
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2025
IBM QRadar Advisor 1.0.0 through 2.6.5 is vulnerable to server-side request forgery (SSRF). This may allow an authenticated attacker to send unauthorized requests from the system, potentially leading to network enumeration or facilitating other attacks.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2025
IBM QRadar Advisor versions 1.0.0 through 2.6.5 contain a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability that enables authenticated attackers to bypass normal access controls and initiate unauthorized requests from the affected system. This vulnerability falls under CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery conditions where applications fail to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input that is used to construct HTTP requests to external systems. The flaw exists in the application's handling of external resource references, allowing attackers who have already established authentication credentials to manipulate the system into making HTTP requests to arbitrary destinations. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to network security as it can be exploited to perform internal network enumeration, discover internal services, and potentially access sensitive resources that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation. The attack vector requires an authenticated session, meaning that an attacker must first compromise valid credentials or gain access to an authorized user account before exploiting this vulnerability. This makes the attack more targeted but also more dangerous since it operates within the legitimate security context of an authorized user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can facilitate more sophisticated attack chains. An attacker could leverage this SSRF flaw to enumerate internal network services, scan for vulnerable systems, or even attempt to reach other internal systems that are not directly exposed to the internet. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to potentially access internal resources that are protected by firewalls or other network security controls, effectively bypassing these protections through the trusted QRadar Advisor application. The authentication requirement does not provide adequate protection against this type of attack as it only prevents unauthorized access to the application itself, not unauthorized requests initiated by the application on behalf of authenticated users. This creates a dangerous scenario where legitimate user credentials can be weaponized to perform actions that the user would not normally be authorized to perform, as the system acts as a proxy for the attacker's malicious requests.
Organizations using IBM QRadar Advisor within their security infrastructure face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to internal systems that may contain sensitive data or critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability's potential for facilitating other attacks makes it particularly dangerous, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more comprehensive compromise of the network environment. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through the application of official IBM patches or updates, as the vulnerability does not appear to have any effective workarounds that would prevent exploitation. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects multiple versions of the application, making it important for organizations to conduct comprehensive inventory checks to identify all affected systems. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous outbound requests that might indicate exploitation attempts, as these requests could appear to originate from legitimate internal systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation controls and access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, as the vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to access sensitive internal resources that are not directly exposed to the internet. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in security architecture design, as it allows authenticated users to perform actions that exceed their intended authorization scope. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocols, and T1566, which addresses malicious exploitation of vulnerabilities, as it represents a specific exploitation path that leverages the application's legitimate functionality to perform unauthorized operations.